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Monday, April 18, 2011

The Bates College baseball team received its second outstanding pitching performance in as many days, shutting out Thomas College 5-0 at Leahey Field for the Bobcats' third straight win.

Sophomore righthander Michael Spinosa (Charlottesville, Va.) threw seven innings, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out six, raising his record this season to 1-2 with his first collegiate victory.

Sophomores Mike Antonellis (Sudbury, Mass.) and Kevin McGregor (Randolph, N.J.) both blanked the Terriers for an inning apiece to preserve the shutout. The three pitchers combined to face only five batters beyond the minimum in the game. Their performance comes a day after Bates junior Karl Alexander (Cambridge, Mass.) threw a nine-inning victory over Husson with 14 strikeouts and no walks.

Thomas (10-20) starter Danny Burke and releiver Eric Sucy held the Bobcats scoreless through five innings, until the hosts touched Sucy for three runs in the sixth. Sophomore Ryan Sonberg (Windsor, Conn.) who was 2-for-2 on the day, led off with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Pat Murphy (Cape Elizabeth, Maine). A grounder made it two outs for the Bobcats, but senior Noah Lynd, McGregor and senior Gordy Webb (Hampden, Maine) hit three straight RBI singles for a 3-0 lead, chasing Sucy (2-5).

Bates added two more scores in the seventh on a two-run single by Murphy, who celebrated by stealing second base to claim the Bobcats' career steals record with 46, moving out of a tie for the record with former teammate Tom Beaton '10. Murphy's hit drove home junior Mike Ciummei (Acton, Mass.) and senior Noah Burke (Appleton, Maine), who led off the inning with two straight singles.

Bates (10-12) hosts NESCAC East Division rival Trinity College for a three-game home series this weekend, beginning with a nine-inning game on Friday at 3 p.m.